Former Gold Glove 1B Mientkiewicz makes first major league start at second base.

BOSTON -- Former Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz
got a rough introduction in his first career start at second base.

Moved over Monday night in an unusual lineup shift by Boston
manager Terry Francona, Mientkiewicz was knocked over by Toronto's
Carlos Delgado after fielding a ground ball in the second inning.

Mientkiewicz handled Frank Catalanotto's bouncer and turned to
tag Delgado. The Blue Jays slugger plowed into him with his right
elbow, knocking Mientkiewicz to the ground and breaking up a
potential double play.

Mientkiewicz got up and said something to Delgado before second
base umpire C.B. Bucknor separated the pair.

On his initial chance of the game in the first inning,
Mientkiewicz made a nice backhand play on Vernon Wells' grounder up
the middle, stepped on second and threw to first for an
inning-ending double play.

Mientkiewicz, the 2001 Gold Glove winner at first base for
Minnesota, had played second base for a total of one inning -- last
season -- since coming to the majors in 1998.

"I always used to goof around out there in BP, in batting
practice, last year in Minnesota," he said. "It's not a permanent
thing by any means. We're just trying to make do with what we have.
Hopefully, if the game's close we'll get someone out there that has
played second."

Francona said he made the move to load the Red Sox lineup with
left-handed hitters, and also because of an injury to third baseman
Kevin Youkilis.

Youkilis was cut on his right leg when he was thrown out at the
plate Sunday, sliding into Chicago White Sox catcher Sandy Alomar
Jr.

Mientkiewicz took grounders at second and worked on turning
double plays during Boston's batting practice before Monday night's
game.

"We're not going to do it the rest of the year," Francona
said. "It's for tonight's game and gives us our best chance."

On Sunday, Ricky Gutierrez started at second base. When Youkilis
was hurt, Bill Mueller, who has been playing second with Mark
Bellhorn and Pokey Reese both on the disabled list.